"A Scout is Cheerful": Labor Day 2013 a Success!

Over Labor Day weekend, Pico Blanco welcomed over 300 Scouts, leaders, and parents for a celebration of the end of summer. Scouts participated in a wide range of activities including swimming, boating, nature hikes, a star trek, archery, rifle and BB shooting, and handicraft activities. In addition, many Scouts participated in dayhikes to Pioneer Camp, Fish Camp, Little Sur Camp, and Skinner Ridge as well as backpack trips to Fox Camp and Mt. Pico Blanco. The late summer sunset from Mt. Pico Blanco was breathtaking!

Saturday night, the Pico staff put on a campfire program that only Pico staff could do. The program consisted a mix of skits and songs from both staff and campers all tied into a central story line. It was great to see the campfire bowl as full as it was.

From the smiles on everyone's faces, both campers and staff, one had sufficient proof that "A Scout is Cheerful."

Plans are already being made for Memorial Day. We plan to expand our hike offerings, including more backpack trips for Troops and Venture Crews, and offer more activities in the program areas.

We look forward to serving you soon.

Labor Day Hikes

Pico Blanco will be offering guided hikes for Scouts of all ages and abilities over Labor Day! Click the following link for more information:
http://svmbc.org/svmbc/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/LaborDayHikes.pdf

This is part of the greater Labor Day Family Camp. For more information, visit http://www.camppicoblanco.org.

Level IV Fire Restrictions in the Los Padres National Forest

A small fire on the other side of the Santa Lucia Mountains in the Tassajara Creek area reminds us that it is fire season and that it's been a dry year. The Los Padres National Forest has raised fire restrictions to Level IV. Note: These apply on forest lands, not inside Pico Blanco Scout Reservation. Please inquire about fire restrictions from council personnel.

The full order can be read here: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/lpnf/news-events/?cid=STELPRDB5428916

Here is a summary:

-Campfires (open flame) are prohibited anywhere in the National Forest, including developed campgrounds.

-Gas stoves are only permitted in certain developed campgrounds.

-No gas stoves in the backcountry; cold camping only.

Thank you for abiding by these policies. We do not want another 2008 to be caused by humans. Let nature start it's own fires.

ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT FOREST FIRES!

Fire Restrictions

Due to dry conditions, campfires are not permitted in the backcountry of the Los Padres National Forest effective May 17 and through the summer. If you would like to use a stove while backpacking, please print out and complete a California Campfire Permit and carry it with you.

We all remember the Basin Complex Fire of 2008 which forced the camp to be closed for a year. While fire plays a vital role in the ecosystems of Central California, we all are challenged by the Outdoor Code to be careful with fire.

New PBSR Parking Permit System for Hiking

Do you want to use Pico Blanco Scout Reservation as a trailhead? Pico's trailhead provides access to the Little Sur Trail, Circular Pools, Fish Camp, Fox Camp, The Window, Pico Public, Mt. Pico, Launtz Creek, and other great destinations.

Parking in camp is $8/day per vehicle. Parking at Bottcher's Gap, the closest public parking, is $5/day. By parking at Pico, you save an extra 4 miles of road hiking each way with over 1000' elevation gain on the way out.

You can reserve your permit online at this link:
http://fs10.formsite.com/svmbc/form196/index.html

More Trail Work!

On November 10, a crew of 17 volunteers cleared 58 fallen trees along the trail to Fish Camp. This greatly expands hiking opportunities for Scouts and the general public along the North Fork of the Little Sur River. This trail also provides to more challenging destinations such as the Circular Pools and The Window. Once again, Fish Camp and Jackson Camp can be used as a beginners hike for troops.

Many thanks to our dedicated volunteers!

National Public Lands Day

Last weekend, to celebrate National Public Lands Day, the Ventana Wilderness Alliance conducted a trail work weekend based out of Pico. The 23 person all-volunteer effort cleared the Little Sur Trail up to the Saddle, clearing 87 downed trees, removing brush, and rehabilitating much of the tread. A trip report from the VWA can be found here.

This trail work trip was desperately needed. Over the past few years the trail up to the Saddle has gotten worse and worse, making trips to Pico Public and Mount Pico take hours longer than they used to. The work done last weekend will make the bakcountry more accessible for Scouts and the general public.

We would like to thank the Ventana Wilderness Alliance for their service. You can learn more about this great organization at http://ventanawild.org

Stay tuned for an upcoming trail work party!

Fox Camp

Fox Camp is a beautiful outpost camp in the Ventana Wilderness of the Los Padres National Forest about 2 hours upstream along the North Fork of the Little Sur. This is a great base camp as one can continue up the North Fork to the Circular Pools or follow Jackson Creek to Upper Esselen and La Ventana.

Fox Camp is also a great overnight or day hike destination since it lies in the redwoods and is a relatively flat hike. The hike is lined with swimming holes and the camp itself is divided by the river in to two sites, each of which could accommodate several patrols. In fact, we've had 2 full troops camped at Fox Camp before. Each site is flat and has a fire ring.

Fox Camp is also home to Drum Rock but we'll save that story for later...

Fire Restrictions Lifted

Effective Monday, November 14, fire restrictions have been lifted and open fires are now allowed in the backcountry. A free California Campfire Permit is still required. Please be careful with fire (it's part of the Outdoor Code) as there are still long periods of dryness in the winter.

CLICK HERE to print out a California Campfire Permit

Forest Order

The South Fork of the Little Sur

Hike west over Launtz Ridge and enter a the beautiful valley of the South Fork of the Little Sur. The river runs beneath old growth redwoosa while the trail passes through chaparral and porteros, grassy meadows. Mount Pico Blanco rises to the north and the Pacific sits to the west. Pico Public is a large campsite above the river that can accomidate several units in a large field and has an attractive waterfall and swimming hole. It is a hike great for a wide range of abilities.

Circular Pools Pt. 1

It was a lovely day for an A-Day Hike. The Scoutcraft crew took some campers along the Little Sur River to the first Circular Pool, where we rendezvoused with the Pico Pathfinders in the last leg of an overnighter. More Pictures to come.